Nurse – The Society For The Recovery Of Persons Apparently Dead EP
It's the little things that count in making great music. That something extra, that pushes a thoroughly competent and talented group of musicians into becoming a truly great band. Cheltenham three-piece Nurse ticks almost every box. While live they sometimes lack the clarity and melodic variety to really stand out, on record these problems are non-existent, with crystal production allowing these tracks full justice.
Opener Days Of Incredible Greatness sets the scene for the rest of this four-track EP, the band's sound a decidedly 'softer' version of hardcore, owing as much to bassy precision riffs of the Foo Fighters as the backing barks, sword fight hi-hat, and explorative song structures of Million Dead.
One of the best things about Nurse, however, is that they do have an edge which is entirely their own. Impact Burn's intro closely recalls Blink-182's Anthem, but the result is five minutes of full-bodied, adventurous post-hardcore, delving deep into the little book of rock tricks, as thudding power chords grapple for attention with boiling-kettle treble. The verses, meanwhile, feature bickering guitar and bass reminiscent of an arguing married couple on the 'scenic route' section of a car journey – overwhelmingly a good thing, by the way. Moments of serene, oscillating picking provide increased progressive depth, and this is repeated on closer Malv to even greater effect.
In between, Balance In The Hanging is comfortably the least interesting thing here, but is not without its charms, lucid bass strokes and bleeping Morse code arpeggios giving way to the kind of big, textured chorus Taking Back Sunday are making their trademark. The last track is the highlight, however, careering between dextrous snare rolls, irate energy, and reverberating distortion in memorable fashion.
However, it also exposes the main problem with this band – a general lack of vocal spark. While chief songwriter Stuart Hawkins' urgent, vaguely James Dean Bradfield-esque growl is certainly palatable, it fails to soar and displays a nagging lack of versatility. Malv heavily employs a fuzzy vocal effect which partly rectifies this, but it is the 'slow part's harmonies which really make the difference, adding a richness absent from the other songs. Lyrically there is little to write an English Literature dissertation on, but similarly there are no obvious horrors and the occasional couplet wedges itself into the brain.
Nurse are largely an enjoyable listen, and their songs increase in stature at each repetition, but their predicament can be best described using a football metaphor. Like Cheltenham Town this season, their build-up play is great, but the finishing touch lets them down.
Review by Rich Partington. www.myspace.com/richthejournalist
To hear this EP click on the following link:- www.myspace.com/nursemusic